The Examination of the Feasibility of Implementing a Biosphere Reserve
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James Madison University JMU Scholarly Commons Masters Theses The Graduate School Fall 2011 The examination of the feasibility of implementing a biosphere reserve in the Maltese Islands : Applying a conservation value evaluation framework Alexander Borg James Madison University Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/master201019 Part of the Sustainability Commons Recommended Citation Borg, Alexander, "The examination of the feasibility of implementing a biosphere reserve in the Maltese Islands : Applying a conservation value evaluation framework" (2011). Masters Theses. 155. https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/master201019/155 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the The Graduate School at JMU Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of JMU Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The research work disclosed in this thesis is funded by the Strategic Education Pathways Scholarship (STEPS). The scholarship is part financed by the European Union – European Social Fund (ESF) under Operational Programme II – Cohesion Policy 2007-2013, “Empowering People for More Jobs and a Better Quality of Life”. Operational Programme II – Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 Empowering People for More Jobs and a Better Quality of Life Scholarship part financed by the European Union European Regional Development Fund (ESF) Co-financing rate: 85% EU Funds; 15% National Funds Investing in your future ii THE EXAMINATION OF THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING A BIOSPHERE RESERVE IN THE MALTESE ISLANDS Applying a Conservation Value Evaluation Framework Alexander Borg A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of UNIVERSITY OF MALTA JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the degree of Master of Science Sustainable Environmental Resources Management Integrated Science and Technology 28 th November 2011 17 th December 2011 iii DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my grandparents, Antonia and Karmenu. They inspire me and always manage to make me smile. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Special thanks go to my supervisors Dr. Louis F. Cassar and Dr. Elisabeth Conrad and JMU committee member Dr. Maria Papadakis for their invaluable help and guidance through this research project. I would also like to thank all those who willingly provided me with their expertise in particular Dr. Robert Kolvoord, Dr. Maria Attard, Mr. Edwin Lanfranco, Mr. Avertano Role, Dr. Sandro Lanfranco and Dr. Malcolm Borg. Finally I would like to thank my family, my father John, my mother Silvana, my sister Gabriella and my girlfriend Katya for their untiring support and patience. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication…………………………………………………………………………….iv Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………v List of Tables……………………………………………………………………..…viii List of Figures………………………………………………………………………...ix List of Abbreviations………………………………………………………………….xi Abstract………………………………………………………………………………xii 1. Introduction……………………………………………………………………1 Overview………………………………………………………………2 Biosphere Reserve in Malta: Does the concept have potential in the Maltese Islands?............................................................5 Research Statement……………………………………………………8 Structure of Study……………………………………………………..9 2. Literature Review…………………………………………………………….10 Conservation challenges and the role of protected areas and sustainable landscapes…………………………………………...11 The role of landscapes………………………………..13 Sustainability in protected area management………...14 Issues in protected areas……………………………...17 Changes in protected area paradigm and in protected area management planning………………………………………………..18 Paradigm shift in protected area management……….20 The biosphere reserve concept……………………………………….22 The three roles of biosphere reserves………………...23 The three zones of biosphere reserves………………..24 Key challenges addressed by biosphere reserves…………………….25 Climate change……………………………………….25 Ecosystem services…………………………………...27 Urbanisation………………………………………….29 Ecotourism………………………………………….. 30 Monetary issues……………………………………....35 The conservation framework in the Mediterranean and the Maltese Islands……………………………………………………….38 The Mediterranean…………………………………...38 The Maltese Islands…………………………………..41 Case Studies………………………………………………………….44 3. Designing a Biosphere Reserve Framework for Malta………………………46 Overview of protected areas in the area of study…………………….47 North West Local Plan……………………………….49 Natura 2000 designations…………………………….49 Il-Majjistral Nature and History Park………………...50 vi Methodology…………………………………………………………53 Criteria needed for a biosphere reserve………............53 Area of study…………………………………………54 Evaluation framework………………………………..55 Digitising of thematic layers…………………………56 Spatial analysis techniques…………………………...58 Conservation value appraisal criteria………………...59 Review of the conservation evaluation framework…………………..61 4. Conservation Evaluation……………………………………………………..63 Analysis of the CVAC………………………………………………..65 Specialist involvement……………………………………………….81 Identifying areas of conservation value………………………………84 5. Establishing the Biosphere Reserve Framework in the Maltese Islands……..86 Introduction…………………………………………………………..87 Core areas…………………………………………………………….89 Buffer zones………………………………………………………...101 Transition zones…………………...………………………………..104 6. Conclusions and Recommendations………………………………………...106 Conclusions…………………………………………………………107 Recommendations…………………………………………………..109 7. References…………………………………………………………………..112 Appendix A…………………………………………………………………………122 Appendix B…………………………………………………………………………125 vii LIST OF TABLES Table 1: IUCN protected area categories………………………………………….…21 Table 2: General data of the Maltese Islands………………………………………...41 Table 3: Lanzarote Biosphere Reserve……………………………………………….44 Table 4: Menorca Biosphere Reserve..................................................................……45 Table 5: SCI data in the area of study………………………………………………..80 Table 6: Dr. Malcolm Borg’s selection of localities for conservation value………...83 Table 7: Mr. Edwin Lanfranco’s selection of localities for conservation value……..83 Table 8: Mr. Avertano Role’s selection of localities for conservation value………...83 Table 9: Dr. Sandro Lanfranco’s selection of localities for conservation value…......84 viii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: The three functions of a Biosphere Reserve………………………………...3 Figure 2: An example of a typical zonation pattern in a Biosphere Reserve………….4 Figure 3: World map identifying UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Mediterranean Region……………………………………………………………………..40 Figure 4: Area of study adopted for the this research study………………………….55 Figure 5: Map illustrating locations mentioned in the thesis…………………………. Figure 6: Rarity………………………………………………………………………65 Figure 7: Connectivity………………………………………………………………..65 Figure 8: Naturalness………………………………………………………………...67 Figure 9: Richness and Diversity…………………………………………………….68 Figure 10: Habitat Loss and Fragmentation…………………………………...……..69 Figure 11: Heritage…………………………………………………………………...70 Figure 12: Protection Status………………………………………………………….71 Figure 13: Selection of SSI’s and AEI’s of a protection level 1……………………..73 Figure 14: Selection of SSI’s and AEI’s of a protection level 2……………………..73 Figure 15: Selection of SSI’s and AEI’s of a protection level 3……………………..74 Figure 16: Selection of SSI’s and AEI’s of a protection level 4……………………..74 Figure 17: Diagram illustrating the overlaying layers to identify areas of conservation value within the area of study………………………………83 Figure 18: Diagram of the overlaid thematic layers………………………………… Figure 19: Map illustrating the proposed biosphere reserve zonation in the area of study following the adopted research…………………………………….86 Figure 20: Wied Babu in Żurrieq…………………………………………………….87 Figure 21: Il-Wardija remnant Mediterranean woodland…………………………….98 Figure 22: Wied Ħoxt in Żurrieq……………………………………………………..89 Figure 23: Il-Maqluba doline/cave collapse in Qrendi……………………………….90 Figure 24: Il-Qarraba promontory and adjacent blue clay talus slopes………………93 Figure 25: Ta’ Qassisu boulder scree………………………………………………...94 Figure 26: It-Torri l-Abjad and il-Blata tat-Torri…………………………………….95 Figure 27: Abandoned fields in Dingli above escarpment serving as a potential corridor for flora and fauna. The image also shows the characteristic dry- stone rubble walls and ‘dura’- a small hut built by hunters……………...91 ix Figure 28: Is-Salini saline marshland………………………………………………...96 x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AEI Areas of Ecological Importance AoS Area of Study CVAC Conservation Value Appraisal Criteria DPA Development Planning Act EPA Environment Protection Act EU European Union GIS Geographic Information System IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature MEPA Malta Environment and Planning Authority NWLP North West Local Plan SAC Special Areas of Conservation SCI Sites of Community Importance SPA Special Protection Areas SSI Sites of Scientific Importance WNBR World Network of Biosphere Reserves xi ABSTRACT Biosphere reserves are protected areas which are internationally recognized within the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s Man and the Biosphere Programme for promoting and establishing a balanced relationship between people and nature. Biosphere reserve management is guided by principles of biodiversity conservation; sustainable development; local, national and international partnership and support; local capacity-building; research and monitoring and co- operative management that is multidisciplinary, multi-stakeholder